---
description: "Reference for Nitric's Node.js library - Publish new events to the topic."
---

# Node.js - topic.publish()

<Note>
  This is reference documentation for the Nitric Node.js SDK. To learn about
  Topics in Nitric start with the [Async Messaging docs](/messaging#topics).
</Note>

Publish an event (push based message) to a topic.

```javascript
import { topic } from '@nitric/sdk'

const updates = topic('updates').allow('publish')

await updates.publish({
  something: 'amazing happened',
})
```

## Parameters

<Properties>
  <Property name="payload" required type="Record<string, any>">
    The payload to publish to the topic.
  </Property>
  <Property name="opts" type="object">
    Additional options when publishing a message to the topic.
    <Properties nested>
      <Property name="delay" type="number">
        A number of seconds to delay the delivery of this message.
      </Property>
    </Properties>
  </Property>
</Properties>

## Examples

### Publish a message

Publishing messages to a topic will push a copy of the message to each of the topic's subscribers. By default, delivery occurs without a delay.

```javascript
import { topic } from '@nitric/sdk'

const updates = topic('updates').allow('publish')

await updates.publish({
  something: 'amazing happened',
})
```

### Delaying message delivery

You can delay the delivery of messages sent to a topic. The current maximum delay is 7 days (604800 seconds).

```javascript
import { topic } from '@nitric/sdk'

const updates = topic('updates').allow('publish')

const event = { example: 'delayed' }

// 10 minute delay
await updates.publish(event, { delay: 600 })
```

### Notes

- A service may subscribe to OR publish to a topic but not both.
